Nassau County, NY — The San Mateo Police Department is proud to announce the outstanding performance of San Mateo Police Cadet Post 211 at the 2nd Annual Nassau County Law Enforcement Exploring Invitational this past weekend, June 12-14, 2026, hosted by the Nassau County Police Department (New York) and held at their “brand-new, state-of-the-art Training Village” at the David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence.
The event brought together over 12 Explorer/Cadet Posts from California, Arizona, and New York to include local, state, and federal agencies, to compete in a rigorous, skills-based law enforcement competition designed to challenge and prepare future leaders in public safety.
Cadet Post 211, representing the City of San Mateo, sent four dedicated Cadets to the competition, where they participated in 14 realistic law enforcement scenarios. These included high-stress situations such as active shooter, unknown trouble, human trafficking, emergency first aid/officer rescue, bomb threat investigations, and crisis negotiation to name a few.
Among a highly competitive field comprised mostly of East Coast teams, Post 211 distinguished themselves as the only team from California and earned 1st Place trophies/medals in Crisis Negotiation, Traffic Accident Investigation, and Individual Physical Agility, a 2nd Place trophy/medal in Force Options, and 3rd Place trophies/medals in Active Shooter and Traffic Stop. A true testament to their professionalism, preparedness, and teamwork under pressure.
This is not the first time San Mateo PD Cadet Post 211 has found success at a competitive law enforcement challenge. In February, they participated in ExCon, a national Explorer Challenge held in Las Vegas. They brought home one award, having previously brought home 3 awards each in 2023 and again in 2024. Last summer, Post 211 participated in the Central Valley Explorer Competition and brought home two awards.
We are beyond proud of our Cadets, as these young men and women continue to impress us with their commitment to training and teamwork. Their success is a testament to their dedication, and it is clear the impact police exploring has on our youth. The fantastic foursome is comprised of Guadalupe H., age 20, Antonio O., age 20, Anna G., age 18, and Victor A., age 17. All four are extremely grateful to have been invited to participate in this invitational based on their past success. It is clear they are making a name for themselves and earning a positive reputation for SMPD Post 211 across the country. San Mateans should be proud of their efforts as they are shining a light on our police department and our city.
The San Mateo Police Cadet Program falls under the Youth Services Unit (YSU) of the police department in conjunction with our non-profit, the San Mateo Police Activities League, and is designed to offer young adults between the ages of 14-20 an immersive experience in the field of law enforcement while fostering leadership skills, discipline, and community service. We are approximately 35 members strong to date. To learn more about Post 211 and how to join visit, Police Explorer Program | San Mateo, CA - Official Website.
